Analysis of The Telegram a short story by writer Iain Crichton Smith Essay

‘The Telegram’ is a short story by writer Iain Crichton Smith. The story follows two women’s experiences as the fate of their sons. The writer uses character and setting to increase the reader’s enjoyment of the story. Through the use of setting in terms of time and place the writer increases the reader’s enjoyment of the story. The story is set in a Scottish costal island during the Second World War. The two women live in a one road village and war is alien to them. Not just the women but the whole village does not understand the purpose of the war: â€Å"It came as a strange plague.† The village of the women was a very close knit community and this meant that everybody knew everybody else. To the village people the war was an attack on them rather than the country because the war was killing their young men and they felt that it was not their war to be part of. The Telegram itself had an impact on the village as it felt like ‘a strange missile’ because it would only cause havoc and destruction amongst the village people and most importantly ruin their lives. The setting of the story is effectively used by the writer to influence or have an impact on the characters, this use of setting increases the reader’s enjoyment of the story. Crichton Smith description is mainly focused on the thin women, the writer uses the imagery of a bird: â€Å" The other more aquiline, more gaunt, or to be more precise, more like a buzzard.† The thin women is perceived to be a person who is not very pleasant. The thin women has had a very hard life to cope with and because of this she is very independent. Through the imagery of a buzzard, a bird of prey, the thin women gives the impression that she is better than everybody else and like a buzzard she is stronger too. The use of the buzzard is also significant because the story is set in Scotland and the buzzard is Scotland’s most common bird of prey. However, even though the thin women is portrayed in a bad way, the thin women has been forced to make a lot of sacrifices. The thin women only received ten shillings in pension was forced into not buying new clothes. The realisation of the harsh circumstances that the thin women has faced make the reader enjoy the story more because the reader has sympathy for the thin women and knowing that her son is not dead gives the thin women hope. Despite all the sacrifices , the thin women saved and saved until she could send her son to university. This is a reason why the thin women thought she was better than everybody because others could afford to send their children to university but chose not because they thought of it as snobbish . The fact that the villagers thought education is snobby gives the reader insight into society the women lived in, the society that would not send their children to university in case that someone spoke ill of them. To deal with the hardships, the thin women has had to develop a lot of discipline and self-control to survive. The hardships the women has faced have left her to show no emotions and sympathy towards anybody but herself. However, for a moment the thin women tries to comfort the fat women in her time of need, this change in character is unusual because the thin women does not expect sympathy from others but now she is sympathetic towards someone else. Iain Crichton Smith uses the setting to show how it influences or has an impact on the characters, this use of setting increases the reader’s enjoyment of the story. Like the thin women, the author uses the imagery of a bird to describe the women: â€Å"†¦a fat domestic bird†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The fat women is described like ‘a fat domestic’ this suggests that the fat women is very dependant on others unlike the thin women. The word fat’ gives the reader the idea that the fat women has had it all in her life. Through the writers use of domestic bird’ it is suggested that the fat women. Due to the different lives both women lived they have differing views on things, this causes arguments between them: â€Å" Well, I just thought they’re better off.’ said the fat women in a confused tone, ‘ they get better food and they get better conditions.’ â€Å" The fat women is jealous how the thin women’s son is better off than her son even though the thin women is poorer e.g. the thin women’s son is of higher rank and gets better pay than the fat women’s son. The writer gives insight into the fat women when she explains why she did not risk sending her son to university in case others thought she was snobbish. Despite not sending her son to university it is evident that the fat women loves her son unconditionally, unlike the thin women, the fat women does not expect compensation from her son for bringing him up, this make the fat women a likeable character thus increasing the reader’s enjoyment of the story. When the fat women knows that the elder is not coming to her house she is all excited but then she realizes that it could be the thin women’s son who has died and only then does the fat women realise what the thin has gone through and tries to sympathy but she cannot. The reasons for the fat women showing no sympathy are that firstly, she does not like the thin women and because the thought of losing her own son has emotionally drained the thin women. The setting adds to suspense and tension throughout the story and especially the climax. From the thin women’s window they can see the entire village: â€Å" As the watched they could see at the far end of the street the tall man in black clothes carrying in his hand a piece of yellow paper. This was a bare village with little colour therefore the yellow was both strange and unnatural.† The fact that the women could see the man at the end of the village from the thin women’s window emphasise to the reader how small the village is, the village being small suggests that it is a very close knit community. The village consists of one road and as the elder walks along the road the suspense and tension builds and the reader expects the elder to visit the homes of the women however this does not happen. In the end the reader is shocked how it is actually the elder’s son who has died and the suspense and tension that leads to this increases the impact. In conclusion, Iain Crichton Smith successfully uses setting, character, imagery as well suspense and tension to increase the readers enjoyment of the story.

Essay on Scared Cold War and Kissinger

Essay on Scared Cold War and Kissinger Essay on Scared: Cold War and Kissinger- Henry Kissinger Fuck 1. Richard Nixon-he was elected to be US President after Johnson decided to not to run for US president again. He promised peace with honor in Vietnam which means withdrawing American soldiers from South Vietnam. 2. Henry Kissinger- Henry Kissinger stands out as the dominant American statesman and foreign policymaker of the late 20th century. With his intellectual prowess and tough, skillful negotiating style, Kissinger ended the Vietnam War and greatly improved American relations with its two primary Cold War enemies, China and the Soviet Union. Nevertheless, Kissinger's ruthlessly pragmatic, sometimes Machiavellian tactics have earned him as many critics as admirers. 3. Vietnamization-President Richard Nixon's strategy for ending U.S involvement in the Vietnam war, involving a gradual withdrawal of American troops and replacement of them with South Vietnamese forces. 4. Kent State- an Ohio University where National Guardsmen opened fire on students protesting the Vietnam War o n May 4,1970, wounding nine and killing four. 5. Pentagon Papers-a secret government history documenting the mistakes and deceptions of government policy makers in dealing with vietnam- leaved to the press by Daniel Ellsberg, a former Defense Department analyst. 6. China Visit-Nixon visit initiated diplomatic exchanges that ultimately led to US recognition of the Communist government in 1979 7. Soviet Union-Strategic Arms Limitation Talks: US diplomats secured Soviet consent to a freeze on the number of ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads, significant step toward reducing cold war tensions 8. Southern Strategy - to win over the south the president asked the federal court in that region to delay integration plans and busing orders and nominated two southern conservatives to the supreme court 9. Stagflation- combination of economic slowdown and high inflation. High prices in a bad economy. 10. U.S vs. Nixon-The 1974 case in which the Supreme Court unanimously held that the do ctrine of executive privilege was implicit in the Constitution but could not be extended to protect documents relevant to criminal prosecutions 11. War Powers Act- required Nixon and any future president to report to Congress within 48 hours after taking military action, it further provided that Congress would have to approve any military action that lasted more than 60 days. 12. Middle East War-outbreak of war on october 6 on the jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, the Syrians and Egyptians launched a surprise attack on Israel in an attempt to recover the lands lost in the Six Day war of 1967. 13. OPEC; oil embargo-the arab members of this organization placed this on oil sold to israel's supporters; it caused a worldwide oil shortage and long lines at gas stations in the US-affected US economy by the loss of manufacturing jobs and a lower standard of living for blue collar workers. 14. Bicentennial- The US celebrated its 200th b-day; Americans' pride in their history helped to put Water gate and Vietnam behind them. 15. Jimmy Carter-little known former governor of georgia who competed for the democratic party's nomination in 1976; had success running as an outsider against the corruption in

World War II Memorial in Washington D.C.

World War II Memorial in Washington D.C. After years of discussion and over half a century of waiting, the United States has finally honored the Americans who helped fight World War II with a memorial. The World War II Memorial, which opened to the public on April 29, 2004, is located at what was once the Rainbow Pool, centered between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. The Idea The idea of a WWII Memorial in Washington DC was first brought to Congress in 1987 by ​Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) at the suggestion of World War II veteran Roger Dubin. After several years of discussion and additional legislation, President Bill Clinton signed Public Law 103-32 on May 25, 1993, authorizing the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) to establish a WWII Memorial. In 1995, seven sites were discussed for the Memorial. Though the Constitution Gardens site was initially selected, it was later decided that it was not a prominent enough location for a memorial commemorating such an important event in history. After more research and discussion, the Rainbow Pool site was agreed upon. The Design In 1996, a two-stage design competition was opened. Out of 400 preliminary designs entered, six were chosen to compete in the second stage which required review by a design jury. After careful review, the design by architect Friedrich St. Florian was chosen. St. Florians design consisted of the Rainbow Pool (lowered and reduced in size by 15 percent) in a sunken plaza, surrounded in a circular pattern with 56 pillars (each 17-feet-high) which represent the unity of the U.S. states and territories during the war. Visitors would enter the sunken plaza on ramps which will pass by two giant arches (each 41-feet tall) that represent the two fronts of the war. Inside, there would be a Freedom Wall covered with 4,000 gold stars, each representing 100 Americans that died during World War II. A sculpture by Ray Kasky would be placed in the middle of the Rainbow Pool and two fountains would send water more than 30-feet into the air. The Funds Needed The 7.4 acre WWII Memorial was estimated to cost a total of $175 million to build, which includes future estimated maintenance fees. World War II veteran and Senator Bob Dole and Fed-Ex founder Frederick W. Smith were the national co-chairmen of the fund-raising campaign. Amazingly, approximately $195 million was collected, almost all from private contributions. Controversy Unfortunately, there has been some criticism over the Memorial. Though the critics were in favor of a WWII Memorial, they strongly opposed its location. The critics formed the National Coalition to Save Our Mall in order to stop the construction of the Memorial at the Rainbow Pool. They argued that placing the Memorial at that location destroys the historic view between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. Construction On November 11, 2000, Veterans Day, there was a ground-breaking ceremony held on the National Mall. Senator Bob Dole, actor Tom Hanks, President Bill Clinton, a 101-year-old mother of a fallen soldier, and 7,000 others attended the ceremony. War-era songs were played by the U.S. Army Band, clips of war-time footage were shown on large screens, and a computerized 3-D walkthrough of the Memorial was available. Actual construction of the Memorial began in September 2001. Constructed of mostly bronze and granite, the construction took three years to complete. On Thursday, April 29, 2004, the site first opened to the public. The formal dedication of the Memorial was held on May 29, 2004. The World War II Memorial honors the 16 million men and women who served in the U.S. armed services, the 400,000 who died in the war, and the millions of Americans who supported the war on the home front.

Arch of titus

The Arch provides one of the few contemporary depictions of Temple period artifacts. [6][7] The seven-branched menorah and trumpets are clearly depicted. It became a symbol of the Jewish diaspora. In a later era, Pope Paul IV made it the place of a yearly oath of submission. Jews refuse to walk under it. [citation needed] The menorah depicted on the Arch served as the model for the menorah used on the emblem of the state of Israel. [citation needed]However, when the existence of modern State of Israel was formally declared, the entire Roman Jewish community spontaneously gathered by the arch and in joyful celebration, walked backwards under the arch to symbolize beginning of the long-awaited redemption from the Roman Exile. [8] The inscription in Roman square capitals reads: SENATVS POPVLVSQVE ·ROMANVS DIVO ·TITO ·DIVI ·VESPASIANI ·F(ILIO) VESPASIANO ·AVGVSTO (Senatus Populusque Romanus divo Tito divi Vespasiani filio Vespasiano Augusto) which means The Roman Senate and People (dedicate this) to the divine Titus Vespasianus Augustus, son of the divine Vespasian. The opposite side of the Arch of Titus received new inscriptions after it was restored during the pontificate of Pope Pius VII by Giuseppe Valadier in 1821. The restoration was intentionally made in travertine to differentiate between the original and the restored portions. The inscription reads: INSIGNE  · RELIGIONIS  · ATQVE  · ARTIS  · MONVMENTVM VETVSTATE  · FATISCENS PIVS  · SEPTIMVS  · PONTIFEX  · MAX(IMVS) NOVIS  · OPERIBVS  · PRISCVM  · EXEMPLAR  · IMITANTIBVS FVLCIRI  · SERVARIQVE  · IVSSIT ANNO  · SACRI  · PRINCIPATVS  · EIVS  · XXIIII (Insigne religionis atque artis, monumentum, vetustate fatiscens: Pius Septimus, Pontifex Maximus, novis operibus priscum exemplar imitantibus fulciri servarique iussit. Anno sacri principatus eius XXIV) (This) monument, remarkable in terms of both religion and art, had weakened from age: Pius the Seventh, Supreme Pontiff, by new works on the model of the ancient exemplar ordered it reinforced and preserved. †¢ In the year of his sacred rulership the 24th †¢ 1The Arch of Titus is a 1st-century honorific arch[1] located on the Via Sacra, Rome, just to the south-east of the Roman Forum. It was constructed in c. 82 AD by the Roman Emperor Domitian shortly after the death of his older brother Titus to commemorate Titus victories, including the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The Arch of Titus has provided the general model for many of the triumphal arches erected since the 16th century—perhaps most famously it is the inspiration for the 1806 Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France, completed in 1836. The arch is large with both fluted and unfluted columns, the latter being a result of 19th century restoration. [2] The spandrels on the upper left and right of the arch contain personifications of victory as winged women. Between the spandrels is the keystone, on which there stands a female on the East side and a male on the West side. [2] Detail of the central soffit coffers The soffit of the axial archway is deeply coffered with a relief of the apotheosis of Titus at the center. The sculptural program also includes two panel reliefs lining the passageway within the arch. Both commemorate the joint triumph celebrated by Titus and his father Vespasian in the summer of 71. The south panel depicts the spoils taken from the Temple in Jerusalem. The Golden Candelabra or Menorah is the main focus and is carved in deep relief. Other sacred objects being carried in the triumphal procession are the Gold Trumpets and the Table of Shew bread. [2] These spoils were likely originally colored gold, with the background in blue. [2] In 2012 the Arch of Titus Digital Restoration Project discovered remains of yellow ochre paint on the menorah relief. [3] The north panel depicts Titus as triumphator attended by various genii and lictors, who carry fasces. A helmeted Amazonian, Valour, leads thequadriga or four horsed chariot, which carries Titus. Winged Victory crowns him with a laurel wreath. [2] The juxtaposition is significant in that it is one of the first examples of divinities and humans being present in one scene together. This contrasts with the panels of the Ara Pacis, where humans and divinities are separated. [2] The sculpture of the outer faces of the two great piers was lost when the Arch of Titus was incorporated in medieval defensive walls. The attic of the arch was originally crowned by more statuary, perhaps of a gilded chariot. [2] The main inscription used to be ornamented by letters made of perhaps silver, gold or some other metal At the inside of the arch are two panels with reliefs. One depicts the triumphal procession with the spoils taken from the Second Temple in Jerusalem the seven-branched candelabrum or Menorah, the silver trumpets and the Table of the Shewbread. The other one shows Titus in a chariot accompanied by the goddess Victoria and the goddess Roma. The Arcus Titi, or Arch of Titus, was ostensibly erected to honor Titus and his father Vespasian because of their victories in the first Jewish War and their triumphal procession in AD 71. [1] The monument was built sometime after Titus’ death in AD 81. The arch sits at the eastern end of the Roman Forum at the intersection of the Sacra Via with a road leading up from the Coliseum. [2] No ancient sources describe or even mention the arch, a fact that leaves the history and interpretation of the arch with significant gaps. [1] The exact period of construction is unknown, with the majority opinion being that it was built during the reign of Titus’ brother, Domitian. [1] The arch may also have been constructed after Domitian had been assassinated, during the rule of Nerva and Trajan. [3] The arch was constructed of Pentelic marble on a travertine foundation. [1] The dimensions of this arch are 15. 4 meters tall, 13. 5 m. wide, and 4. 75 m. deep. The archway is 8. 3 m. high and 5. 36 m. wide. [1] Above the archway is a simple entablature with inscription, preserved only on the eastern, Coliseum side:

The Differences Between Alexander the Great and Napoleon Essay

The Differences Between Alexander the Great and Napoleon - Essay Example Either way, they were both men of great power. By comparing their differences in personality and ambition, it becomes clear what traits are dominant among those who wish to lead and rule, and what traits are merely quirks of the person. Alexander the third, more commonly known as Alexander the Great of Macedonia, was not the first in his family to be a warrior. His father, King Philip the second had also been a great warrior, bringing together the country of Macedonia. (Brown). For him, conquest was inevitable, as was the taming of his great horse, Bucephalus. Believing himself to be one of the Gods, Alexander took over his father's empire at the age of twenty, when his father was killed. Alexander won conquest after conquest, eventually being named Pharaoh of Egypt. (Brown). Yet as he pushed his men on, they grew resentful, and eventually refused to continue. It was not long after that he because very ill, and died. For Alexander, his ambitions were actually small, but they took on a large meaning. At the time, to be truly the best was to be Greek. Yet he was from Macedonia, a land the Greeks despised. Alexander the third, more commonly known as Alexander the Great of Macedonia, was not the first in his family to be a warrior. His father, King Philip the second had also been a great warrior, bringing together the country of Macedonia. (Brown).   For him, conquest was inevitable, as was the taming of his great horse, Bucephalus. . Believing himself to be one of the Gods, Alexander took over his father’s empire.... force the land and power necessary to become someone great, and indeed, near the end of his conquests he was called the "Lord of Asia" and had conquered many countries. His motivations and ambitions were clear, wealth, fame, power. He also wanted to finish the work of is father, and destroy the Persians, whom the Macedonians thought to be horrible, filthy people. As for his personality, there is much to be seen in some of his earliest moves a nd actions. Bucephalus, his horse, was tamed by him at the age of twelve, when no other man could tame him. Not only was his intelligence clear, but also his sheer determination. When none of the king's men could tame the horse, Alexander said that he could or would pay the cost of the horse. Easily, he noticed that the horse was not unwilling, but his own shadow was scaring him. Turning him into the sun, Alexander easily tamed and rode the horse. It was at this point that his father told him "Oh my son, look thee out a kingdom equal to and worthy of thyself, for Macedonia is too little for thee." (Lamb) The death of his horse some eighteen years later was tragic to Alexander, and he buried his horse in a tomb near a town he named Bucephala, to honor his horse. His kindness to his animals was important; as was his kindness to the people he conquered. Although, like others, he sold women and children into slavery, he was remarkably good to those who did not oppose his rule, and did n ot rape and murder the women, as other leaders might have. He wanted power, but in many ways, it is clear that he also wanted respect. His intelligence is also clear in his ability to understand and learn from Aristotle, one of the greatest philosophers in history.  

Trust and trustees Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Trust and trustees - Essay Example The assumption that many have is that they are protected under the legal framework of â€Å"common law marriage.† Tina and Luke can exemplify this fact since they lived for several years and upon breakdown of the relationship, Luke was in a fix upon the sale of the house since Tina didn’t consider him or the contribution he had made towards the renovation of the place they both considered home. This paper will try to give an in-depth analysis of this case study by exploring the current law that governs relationship breakdown for cohabitees, the rights that Luke has on Tina’s flat and how he can get his share of the property back. ‘A patchwork of legal rules’ are entailed in the legal rights available to cohabitants upon relationship breakdown.2 This is because the procedure of reclaiming a right over a property in a cohabiting situation is complex, expensive and uncertain to rely on and not applicable to family circumstances.3 This can be highlighted by the disparity that exists with the relief available to married couples under the Matrimonial Causes Act 1973 (MCA)4, which enables the court to deal with the entirety of a couple’s assets and provide for complete discretion when making orders, with the courts ‘largely left to get on with it for themselves.’.5 In Luke and Tina’s situation, the property under contention was registered at the Land Registry in Tina’s sole name. In sole ownership cases, the difficulty arises for the non-legal owner who must traverse their way through strict property law and complex equitable principles under the Trust of Land and Appointment of Trustees Act 1996, which is supposed to establish an equitable interest in the property.6 There are also complications that arise in regard to joint ownership cases and this precedence has been hugely used to determine the cases of cohabitee. The

Safeguarding Adults at risk Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3250 words

Safeguarding Adults at risk - Essay Example Abuse is defined as the improper treatment to an individual or an entity, in order to gain benefit from such practices for a better life (Pillemer & Wolf, 1986). However, this form of benefit is considered as unfair and unethical. There are several categories of abuse, which the world has witnessed. Some of the most common categories of abuse include physical abuse, wherein an individual or group contacts with others and purposes to physical pain, physical suffering, injury, or bodily harm (Summers & Hoffman, 2006). Another category of abuse, which is extensively familiar among women, is the sexual abuse. It is also known as molestation, wherein one individual forces other for undesired sexual behaviour. Moreover, there is another category of abuse, which is provided lesser importance, but has a significant impact on the victim. In this regard, the behaviour of an individual or groups leads to psychological trauma to others. This psychological trauma to the victim includes chronic de pression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder (Sanderson, 2006). Furthermore, another common category of abuse, which is widely notable, is the financial abuse. In financial abuse, individuals create circumstances to obtain financial advantages from others. The victim in such circumstances undesirably has to make payments, which is considered as unethical or immoral. In addition, there is prevalence of another category of abuse, which is the neglect discriminatory abuse (Sajo, 2006). Some of the individuals or groups are highly vulnerable to the different categories of abuse. In this regard, vulnerable is defined as the possibility of being harmed or attacked by the influence of others. Thus, it is important from the perspective of benefiting the society through incorporating some of the safeguarding measures (Sanderson, 2006). Safeguarding to